PSA - Lube matters way more than I ever thought

[TheGerman]

I'm sure this could be twisted but lets stick to lube in regards to reloading.

I've always used it and have mainly used the Dillon stuff. I know it mattered but was always under the impression it was 99% to not get the case stuck in the die and that was pretty much it.

Well, either that is totally wrong or I stumbled across something today. Lube actually ensures that your brass gets sized more uniformly.

Today while setting a die up, I ended up soaking a few cases in lube and figured for the handful of follow up cases the residual lube would suffice. Well, the first 5 (that were all lubed) measured the exact same headspace/shoulder measurement. The next 5 varied by up to .005. This drove my insane trying to figure out why, and over the coarse of sizing more brass it finally hit me......its the lack of lube somehow causing havoc on the cases and not sizing correctly.

Been reloading for years, and this just occurred to me as I thought lube was to avoid stuck cases. Sigh.

 

[briscoetab]

This kinda of goes along with your post, not trying to hi-jack it or anything.

The only way I've ever lubed is with a lube pad. I have a can of spray lube sitting on the shelf but have never used it. I've read several times that spray lube is way easier and faster. One reason I have not switch to spray lube is kind of for the reason stated in you post.

I feel like I get my brass lubed more uniformily using lube pad, which means it gets the same tension in sizing die. The other and main reason is I get dented case shoulders if I put to much lube on a case.

I am not 100% sure the dents are from too much lube but using only a very slight film of lube on the brass seems to fix the problem and I'm afraid the spray lube would get to much lube on the brass. I would think using more lube would prevent the dents but it doesn't.

I should just try the spray lube, I don't know why I don't. I guess I have a routine worked out and don't want to change it.

 

[BC 6.8]

I have notice this same phenomenon when sizing some brass a few weeks ago. I found that I had to lube every case as evenly as possible to get consistent shoulder bump, but using spray lube I still have about 0.0025" variation. I believe the only way to get less variation would be to use a lube pad, but I haven't tried that yet.

 

[TheGerman]

I have notice this same phenomenon when sizing some brass a few weeks ago. I found that I had to lube every case as evenly as possible to get consistent shoulder bump, but using spray lube I still have about 0.0025" variation. I believe the only way to get less variation would be to use a lube pad, but I haven't tried that yet.

This is exactly what happened. Was using all once fired brass, same headstamp and I literally went crazy trying to figure out why there was a variance.

For spray lube, get a thicker sandwich bag and spray a few squirts in it with the brass inside, shake and let sit a few minutes.

Here's a question: Would not lubing the inside of the case neck/mouth cause uneven shoulder bumping due to more/less downward pressure above the shoulder area?

 

[damoncali]

I use homebrew spray lube (lanolin and 99% alcohol) and generally can resize brass to within .0005". However, for the first few firings they size less consistently - maybe a range of .0025". After a couple firings, it tightens up. I don't do anything special with the lube - just spray it on and wait a few minutes for the alcohol to evaporate. If they stick at all I put more on.

 

[427Cobra]

I use Imperial Sizing Wax, it simply works, and lasts for thousands of rounds, I have worn out 2 308w barrels and a 260 barrel on the same tin.

 

[long range newbie]

I just like the pad, the spray seems like too little. I also use hornady neck lube.

 

[BC 6.8]

This is exactly what happened. Was using all once fired brass, same headstamp and I literally went crazy trying to figure out why there was a variance.

For spray lube, get a thicker sandwich bag and spray a few squirts in it with the brass inside, shake and let sit a few minutes.

Here's a question: Would not lubing the inside of the case neck/mouth cause uneven shoulder bumping due to more/less downward pressure above the shoulder area?

Yes if you don't lube the neck you will get uneven shoulder bump because of more drag on the expander. I have taken the expander out of my dies to get better consistence.